Other Pamplin Media Group sites

Canadian city seeks Winter Games

Vancouver, British Columbia's hopes for playing host to the 2010 Winter Games may rest on a one-hour presentation to 120 voters Wednesday in Prague, Czech Republic.

Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien, British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell, two-time Olympic gold medalist Catriona Le May Doan and hockey great Wayne Gretzky are among those scheduled to represent Vancouver in its bid against Salzburg, Austria, and Pyeonchang, South Korea.

All three cities will have an hour to make their presentation, and the Olympic voters then will cast ballots. The Canadian city is the leading candidate, although Vancouver 2010 Bid Corp. President John Furlong told the Canadian Press that the final presentation is still crucial.

'It wouldn't be a surprise to me to have a fairly significant percentage of (voters) place a lot of emphasis on the presentation, if for nothing else but to confirm their view,' Furlong said.